Purpose: To describe the long-term retention of indocyanine green (ICG) in the fundus after ICG-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling.
Design: Case report. Two patients underwent vitrectomy including ICG-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling. The fundus was examined with a 780-nm infrared illumination of a scanning laser ophthalmoscope after surgery.
Results: No ICG staining of the fundus was visible ophthalmoscopically. Examination with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope, however, detected fluorescence from residual ICG until 6 months after surgery in case 1 and 9 months in case 2. No complication related to the residual ICG was observed.
Conclusions: The results suggested that ICG remains in the fundus for a long period after surgery. Clearance of the dye from the diabetic retina may be prolonged.